Texas' best BBQ sauces

Sauce is winning over barbecue fans and grillers.

By Compiled by Chron.com

on May 22, 2013 9:54 AM

Photo: Mayra Beltran

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With Memorial Day just around the corner, Texans will be firing up their
grills and tweaking their sauces for the start of the summer barbecue
season. See what our tasters had to say about these sauces.

With Memorial Day just around the corner, Texans will be firing up... Photo-4661649.62902 - seattlepi.com

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Luling City Market Barbeque Sauce: Opened in 1981, Luling City Market has been bottling its mustard-based sauce for more than 20 years. It boasts that its sauce goes as well on eggs and seafood as it does on brisket or ribs. Tasters liked the honey-mustard flavor of the of theof the copper-colored sauce and appreciated the spicy kick. “It bites back,” one taster remarked.

Backyard BBQ Sauce: Backyard Grill prides itself in its award-winning sauces, seasoning and hot sauces. Our tasters called the bayou-colored, super-thick sauce “classic.” Most The majority liked its smoky flavor while some quibbled over sweetness. Backyard also produces a hickory sauce and a “Shlopin Sauce” said to be good on everything from veggies to seafood.
Find it: The Grill, 9453 Jones, 281-897-9200; The Smokehouse, 13802 Fleur de Lis in Cypress, 281-469-3485.
Cost: $6 for 18 ounces less

Tin Roof B-B-Q Sauce: Ronnie and Nancy Webber opened Tin Roof BBQ in 2001. Folks may remember the original was just a couple of blocks outside Memorial Park. Later, the couple moved the business to Atascocita. Tin Roof eschews the fancy bottles and offers its sauce for take-home in a mason jar. The brick-colored sauce has a nice texture, but most tasters found it “too middle of the road” to stand out. But its strong tomato flavor and buttery finish earned it some fans, too.

Brookstreet Original BBQ Sauce: Founded in 1999, Brookstreet has two barbecue joints in the suburbs. Its dark, brick-red sauce was tangy, just a tad sweet and very smoky. It was medium thick and clung to the brisket.
Find it: 7232 Texas 6, Missouri City, 281-403-3050; 1418 Texas 6, Sugar Land, 281-313-4000.
Cost: $3.99 for 13.8 ounces less

Brookstreet Original BBQ Sauce: Founded in 1999, Brookstreet has two barbecue joints in the suburbs. Its dark, brick-red sauce was tangy, just a tad sweet and very smoky. It was medium thick and clung to the ... more

Red River Bar-B-Que Sauce: Brothers Kevin and Ric Kiersh opened their first Red River Bar-B-Que Co. in League City in 2002. Based on a recipe from the brothers’ grandfather, Red River’s syrup-like sauce was labeled smoky, complex and a bit too sweet by our tasters. It gets its heat from cayenne pepper.
Find it: 1911 E. Main, League City, 281-332-8086; 1711 S. Mason, Katy, 281-578-3800.
Cost: $5.95 for 28 ounces less

Red River Bar-B-Que Sauce: Brothers Kevin and Ric Kiersh opened their first Red River Bar-B-Que Co. in League City in 2002. Based on a recipe from the brothers’ grandfather, Red River’s syrup-like sauce was ... more

Pizzitola’s Serious Bar-B-Cue Sauce: One of the city’s oldest barbecue spots, Pizzitola’s calls its concoction “Serious Bar B Cue Sauce.” It’s a thin sauce compared to the others tasted for this story, and it is best heated before serving. A dark orange, the mild-flavored sauce has a surprisingly warm finish.
Find it: 1703 Shepherd, 713-227-2283
Cost: $3.50 for 14 ounces less

Pizzitola’s Serious Bar-B-Cue Sauce: One of the city’s oldest barbecue spots, Pizzitola’s calls its concoction “Serious Bar B Cue Sauce.” It’s a thin sauce compared to the others tasted for this ... more

Goode’s Original BBQ Sauce: Goode Co. has been bottling its sauce for barbecue fans for barbecue fans since 1977. The red-orange sauce was a favorite among tasters, who praised the peppery finish, its meaty flavor and its far-from-smooth texture. Goode Company also bottle variations of the sauce that are that are labeled “heavy garlic” and “jalapeño garlic.”
Find it: 8911 Katy Freeway, 713-464-1901; 5109 Kirby, 713-522-2530; 20102 Northwest Freeway, 832-678-3562.
Cost: $5.95 for 13.25 ounces less

Goode’s Original BBQ Sauce: Goode Co. has been bottling its sauce for barbecue fans for barbecue fans since 1977. The red-orange sauce was a favorite among tasters, who praised the peppery finish, its meaty ... more

Rudy’s Bar-B-Q Sause: Rudy’s Bar-B-Q was founded in Leon Springs as a one-stop gas station in the 1800s, and its signature line of barbecue was added in 1989. Rudy’s calls its assertive, brick-red gravy “sause.” Our tasters loved the peppery, clove-spiked sauce. “It stands up nicely to the meat,” one observed. The chain also sells a “Sissy Sause” at its four Houston-area stores.
Find it: 20806 I-45, Spring, 281-288-0916; 21799 Katy Freeway, Katy, 832-772-7242; 14620 Northwest Freeway, Houston, 713-462-3337; 21361 Gulf Freeway, Webster, 281-338-0462.
Cost: $5.50 for 18 ounces less

Rudy’s Bar-B-Q Sause: Rudy’s Bar-B-Q was founded in Leon Springs as a one-stop gas station in the 1800s, and its signature line of barbecue was added in 1989. Rudy’s calls its assertive, brick-red gravy ... more